Compliance Checks to Be Conducted Among Area Alcohol Retailers

1/19/2012

Over the next several months area law enforcement agencies will be conducting compliance checks among businesses licensed to sell alcoholic beverages in the Freeport community. Retailers were previously notified by letter about the upcoming compliance checks and a retailer training, BASSET, was offered to all retailers in 2011 on how to serve alcohol responsibly.

Law enforcement will follow standard procedures for conducting alcohol compliance checks. Underage youth will work with law enforcement to attempt to make an illegal purchase of alcohol, and area businesses twill hopefully refuse to sell to them.

The FHN Family Counseling Center's Partnership's for Success grant is implementing strategies such as alcohol compliance checks and party patrols in partnership with the Illinois State Police and the Freeport Police Department in an effort to reduce underage drinking in the Freeport community.

Compliance checks are conducted because research has shown that they are an effective strategy in reducing underage drinking, which is known to contribute to car crashes, injuries, unwanted sexual encounters, vandalism, theft, addiction, sexually transmitted diseases, and death by alcohol poisoning. By themselves, compliance checks will not eliminate youth access to alcohol but when combined with a comprehensive community approach, they can help keep alcohol out of the hands of youth.

For more information on alcohol compliance checks contact Sharon Mockridge of FHN Family Counseling Center at 815-599-7344.